A leaked internal Bundeswehr report reveals that Ukrainian forces find many German weapons unreliable in combat, with the outdated Gepard surprisingly outperforming newer systems.
Ukrainian engineers have transformed 1980s-era Leopard tanks with explosive reactive armor and anti-drone netting, addressing critical vulnerabilities in modern combat.
Germany will send 12 Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers, and with European partners, deliver 77 Leopard 1A5 tanks to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Pistorius said at Ramstein. Six howitzers are scheduled for delivery this year, with the remaining six in 2025.
Germany is covertly stepping up arms aid for Ukraine. This is demonstrated by a huge military package including tanks and HIMARS rocket launchers, which was delivered to Ukraine at the end of June beginning of July.
Rheinmetall awarded contract to supply Ukraine with 32 Leopard 1 systems, including 25 main battle tanks, recovery vehicles, and training tanks, plus support services, with delivery in 2024.
Ukraine previously declined ten tanks from Germany due to their extensive need for repairs. Now Denmark has sent tanks of the same type. However, 12 out of 20 were out of order, Denmark's Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen recognized.
The first ten Leopard 1 tanks supplied by Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands have arrived in Ukraine, Denmark's armed forces said on 8 September 2023.
A Swiss public broadcaster published the first photos of about 100 Swiss-owned tanks that were to be sold to Germany for the transfer to Ukraine, but Switzerland's government rejected the sale.